BLOOD RED

DISCLAIMER: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

"We, who still live off the land, believe all things carry a spirit a soul. Sometimes these souls are carried on the wind, whispering gentle words of praise, sometimes these souls fall from the sky with the rain. These souls many gentle in nature, other's evil and then there are the vengeful souls, those who will not rest until the hate vanishes. Vengeful souls are carried back by crows, who watch over them, guiding them so that they may then rest in peace. If one of these souls is after you run, run like there is no tomorrow, do not look back, do not stop, for if you stop you will face a fate worse than death."

Paragraph taken from Book of Lies written by Akane Tendo.

It was almost a normal day in Nerima; almost the day was hot and warm. A short jet black haired girl was kneeling and talking to flowers.

"I'm sorry for picking you, but I need you to make the herbal medicine, I hope you have had a good life, and will help to make others better."

The voice was soft spoken; she stopped as she heard another person approach. She saw the shadow first and instantly breathed out the word she was hoping to keep in.

"Ranma."

The man seemed to laugh, taking a closer inspection to see what the young woman was doing.

"Jeez, Akane didn't know a tomboy like you, would be into flowers."

He laughed again, awaiting her reaction but to his dismay she didn't get up to pound him like she usually did, she didn't even yell or scream, the mallet of hers was no where to be seen.

He instantly put his hand to the girl's forehead, feeling his own for reassurance.

"You're not sick are ya?"

She turned to face him, her face emotionless clutching the flowers in her hand.

"Believe it or not Ranma I'm trying to act civilized. You know we're meant to get married in two weeks time, but the thing is I don't really know how you feel. It's been a year since the failed wedding, you know how I feel and if you're only doing this to please our Father's then please tell me now. So I can spare myself the embarrassment and agony of another failed wedding."

With that she walked back into the house, and to her room depositing the flowers in her hand into a jar on her desk. She looked out the window watching Ranma meditate. He still hadn't tried to get rid of the other fiancés in fact he still acted like he did when they had first met, she was glad in a way, but she wanted more like Ranma's love. She didn't know what was going through his head at the moment but she couldn't blame him, she wouldn't be able to cope with what he had to go through.

She knew he was still upset about his curse, but Akane had told him more than once that to her it didn't matter. Curse or not he was still Ranma and she could get past it, if he was willing to try. She sighed again looking around her room, she needed to be comforted and P-Chan hadn't been seen in weeks now, one of her older sisters Nabiki had told her that the piglet might have run away, she had missed him though.

She hadn't seen any of the other's either since the failed wedding and was hoping they had learnt a valuable lesson, besides almost killing her, Ranma and her family in the process.

Shampoo on the other hand was scheming unknown to her Great Grandmother and Mousse. She took the money from a jar and went to meet with the unknown accomplice.

"Have you brought the money?"

A dark figure questioned. Shampoo only nodded fishing the money from a pocket.

"How many?"

She questioned.

The unknown accomplice replied.

"Two more just in case."

Shampoo only nodded.

"When?"

She questioned looking around to make sure no one she knew saw her.

"Tonight, it will make it easier and your wish will come true."

"Aiya Shampoo so happy."

She swept her arms around the figure hugging them briefly before running back to the shop. Smiling as she ran past people.